• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mesa 400+ Question...

D

Dan T.

May 9, 2005
126
0
45
Minneapolis
www.myspace.com
#1
am I fighting a losing battle trying to get a good clean non-distorted sound out of this thing with my MM Stingray? Or is there a piece of the puzzle I'm missing here.?

I'm playing a Stingray, through the Mesa, into an Ampeg 810.
It seems that the only way I can get a decent amount of volume out of this amp is when i crank my gain way up and all I'm left with is a really distorted sound. I know I'm getting alot of that from my bass, but it feels like alot of the distortion I'm getting is coming out of the amp. Anyone got any good suggestions as far my settings go to tame the distortion down a bit?

I've searched some of the old threads on the 400+ and they aren't giving me the solutions I'm looknig for, that's why I pose this question to this forum now. Thanks for any help.

Dan T.
 
#2
interesting. i cant get mine loud enough to distort. well, i should say, it has to be waaaaayyyyy loud before it distorts.

try using the other input. input 1 is made for active basses, so it has a higher head room. input 2 is made for passive bassess. im pretty sure you can use either with either.

i use 2 with a passive bass because its the louder of the two inputs.
 
#6
Dan T. said:
am I fighting a losing battle trying to get a good clean non-distorted sound out of this thing with my MM Stingray? Or is there a piece of the puzzle I'm missing here.?

I'm playing a Stingray, through the Mesa, into an Ampeg 810.
It seems that the only way I can get a decent amount of volume out of this amp is when i crank my gain way up and all I'm left with is a really distorted sound. I know I'm getting alot of that from my bass, but it feels like alot of the distortion I'm getting is coming out of the amp. Anyone got any good suggestions as far my settings go to tame the distortion down a bit?

Dan T.
Click to expand...

MMs can be pretty hot. Try input 1 as suggested above and check how you have it EQ'd? Are you sucking out all the mids so the volume/gain has to be maxed to be heard?

I run the gain ~4 with a hot Spector and the thing cranks with volume at 3-4. It'll get a nice warm distortion after awhile with the volume at 5 that I find very pleasing. It's also insanely loud.

What head and/or cab were you using before? I have the same setup (400+/Ampeg 810) and I also use it the 400+ with Eden D410XLTs. The Eden cabs are much louder then the SVT 810. If you are used to a more effcient type cab the 810 is not going to sound as loud.

Dan T. said:
I know I'm getting alot of that from my bass, but it feels like alot of the distortion I'm getting is coming out of the amp.
Click to expand...

I'm puzzeled by this. Why are you getting distortion from your bass? Maybe at the end of the day that's the problem.
 
#9
hmm, thanks for the suggestions everybody, i did actually used to play through 2 eden 4x10xlt's but got rid of one of them to put the money into the Ampeg 810, at some point I'm sure I'll get another one again to match it or possibly a 2x10xlt, the only thing my SVT4 Pro sounded good through was those cabs. Actually I jsut bought a Mesa 2x15 Diesel cab that I'm really anxious to plug into tonight, I'm curious to see how that cab handles that head.

I do think my bass is pretty messed up right now, I was playing in two different bands with two different low tunings and it's in desperate need of a setup, I think alot of the grindy, ****ty sound I'm getting out of the bass will go away once I do that.
 
#14
Masher88 said:
Just out of curiousity, why did you give up the 2 Eden 4x10's for an Ampeg 8x10"? I was looking into getting the Eden XLT. And I own an 8x10 ampeg.
Click to expand...

I actually still own one of my Eden's. I just wanted to try something different all around. A little bigger, what I figured would be a deeper sound. The Eden's while they are awesome, I always feel that they are really bright sounding cabs and I was looking for a deeper sound. Plus I never owned an 810 before so I was interested in it, every one I ever played on before owning mine I liked. I'd still totally reccommend getting Eden's they are awesome, like I was saying earlier I'll probly get back to playing on 2 Eden 4x10's before too long, haha.
 
#16
I play through both inputs, one at 3 the other around 4 or 5. I have my master set at between 4-6, and eq. is boosted a bit on the low, flat on the mid and cut a bit on the highs, and I've never heard even the hint of distortion.

You've got a problem somewhere in your signal chain, and I'd start taking your rig apart piece by piece to find it. Try the amp/cab with a different bass. Try your bass with a different amp/cab. Try your head with a few other cabs, try different cords and cables. Make sure you're running your head with the fan on high with plenty of ventilation.

While I don't think Mesa tubes are great, I also don't think they'd ship any DOA.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back